Ski exercising apparatus



8', 1970 R. J. OSSENKOP 3, 4

SKI EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2. 1967 35 'FIG.I I 35 l /9 2Sheets-Shet l 1 N VEN TOR RQBERT J. OSSENKOP ATTORNEY R. J. OSSENKOP SKIEXERCISING APPARATUS Aug. 18, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2. 1967ROBERT J. OSSENKOP ATTORNEY 3,524,641 SKI EXERCISING APPARATUS Robert J.Ossenkop, Linden, N.J., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company,a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,311

Int. Cl. A63b 69/18 US. 'Cl. 272-57 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe ski exercising apparatus comprises a pair of arcuate parallel spacedguide rails and a cart which shuttles left to right along the rails. Endsupports and a center support are provided for the rails and rubberstraps extend from the cart to each end support, and in addition, arubber safety strap extends from the cart to the center support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ski exercisingequipment and particularly to an apparatus which simulates the sport ofskiing and also improves the coordination required for skiing. Thepresent invention represents an improvement over the device disclosed inthe copending application of Albert Schwalder, Ser. No. 482,666, filedAug. 26, 1965, which is assigned to applicants assignee. The apparatusas disclosed hereinafter comprises a compact lightweight and economicalexercising device which is superior to the ski exercising equipmentcurrently available. As a further advantage, neither ski boots nor skiisare required when using the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the object of this invention is toprovide a new and improved ski exercising apparatus.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the presentinvention pertains to a new and improved ski exercising apparatusincluding a platform arrangement, a supporting structure upon which theplatform is designed to move back and forth, and resilient means coupledto the platform and the supporting structure to restrain said platformin its motion therealong. The platform comprises an upper portion uponwhich an individual stands to operate the apparatus and downwardlyextending side portions having rollers mounted thereto which engage thearcuate supporting structure and are designed to ride back and forthalong said structure. The resilient means are connected to therespective ends of the supporting structure and to the platform andinclude a unique buckle arrangement which secures the resilient means tothe supporting structure. The subject ski exercising apparatus simulatesthe sport of skiing and also improves the coordination required forskiing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present inventionwill be more clearly understood when viewed in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the unique exercising apparatus comprising thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of the exercising apparatus taken along the line 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the invention taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a broken-away side view illustrating the assembly of an endportion of the exercising apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view of a modified version of the buckle arrangementdisclosed in the previous figures;

3,524,641 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 FIG. 7 is a view showing the operationof one buckle arrangement;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the operation of another buckleembodiment, and

FIG. 9 is a view showing the ski exercising apparatus in operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,the invention comprises a ski exercising apparatus 10 which includes aplatform 11 mounted on a pair of tubular supporting rails 12 formovement back and forth along the rails 12. The platform 11 includes anupper surface 13 having a pair of foot pads 14 positioned thereon forplacement of an individuals feet. In operation, an individual stands onthe platform 11 and urges it along the rails 12 in a typical skiingmotion simulating the Wedeln or parallel technique.

The platform 11 also includes downwardly extending side portions 15having ball bearing rollers 16 journaled thereto and upwardly extendingportions 18 which assist arr-individual in maintaining his feet inposition on the platform 11. The rollers 16, which include a groovedouter surface 20, ride along the arcuate supporting rails 12 as theplatform 11 moves from side to side under the urging of an individualsimulating a typical skiing maneuver, see FIG. 9.

The platform 11 is normally restrained from movement to either side of acentral position by a resilient belt 28 made of a material such as highquality gum rubber. The resilient strap or sling 28 is coupled to theplatform 11 to return the platform 11 to its initial position afterdisplacement in either direction. Curved guard portions 17 are providedon the lower end of the downwardly extending side portions 15 to preventthe platform 11 from becoming derailed.

The rails 12 are of a predetermined curved configuration which is bowedupwardly from the end supporting portions 35. Rubber end caps 22 areprovided on the ends of the rails 12 to prevent any sliding movementalong the floor surface. The rails 12 are braced by transverse members40 which are mounted to said rails 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 andsecured thereto by threaded members 19. The threaded members or bolts 19are inserted through apertures in the rails 12 and anchored to receptacles in the bracing members 40 such as conical washers 21. Thisassembly arrangement eliminates the welded joints of conventionalapparatus and permits knockeddown packaging of the subject apparatus.The invention as thus described also has distinct safety advantages andis attractive in appearance.

The rails 12 are also supported intermediate their ends by asubstantially U-shaped member 23 comprising flanged and portions 24 atthe ends of each leg 33 and a relatively narrow portion 27 at the basemidpoint. The end portions 24 are inserted through apertures 25 incenter the tubular rails 12 and secured thereto by bolts 26 which engagethe holes 30 in members 23. One end of a resilient safety strap 31 formaintaining the platform 11 on the rails 12 is wrapped about the narrowbase portion 27 and locked in position by means of the unique bucklearrangement 32. The other end of the safety strap 31 is secured to theplatform 11 by a clamping means 29 which includes tubular clamp 36,bolts 46 and locking nuts 37. A predetermined amount of slack isprovided in the belt 31 to permit platform movement without hindrancefrom the belt 31. This slack is taken up when platform 11. reacheseither end of the apparatus 10, preventing over stressing use. The belt31 also acts as a safety should a break or slippage occur in strap 28.

In greater detail, the belt 28 passes through the upper aperture 47 of abuckle 38 at each end of the apparatus and then about a transversemember 40 and back through the aperture 47 in the opposite direction.The strap or belt 28 then passes in an S-shaped path through theapertures 39 and 41 in the buckle 38. The buckle 38 which is similar tothe buckle 32 on the safety arrangement secures the strap 28 in positionwithout the con ventional metal straps, nuts, bolts, etc. and thuspermits both an assembly and a material savings. Furthermore, animproved fit is obtained by use of the subject buckles 32 and 38. Animproved version of the buckle is shown in FIG. 6 wherein steel rollers42 are mounted about at the slot openings 39 and 47 to facilitatethreading the strap 28 therethrough and to prevent excess wear andchafling. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate two buckles 32 and 38 and differentbelt threading for each. The subject buckles provide an ideal couplingwhich does not deleteriously affect belt life.

The strap 28 commences at the transverse members 40, passes over thebelt 31 and is mounted to the platform 11 by clamping means 29 whichincludes tube 36, bolts 46 and locking nuts 37. The safety strap 31 issecured against strap 28 by the same clamping means 29. In operation,therefore, the platform 11 is moved from side to side by an individualagainst the resilient force of the strap 28 and safety belt 31 whichmoves from side to side. Both straps will return platform 11 to thecenter of the apparatus 10 when the individual stops his movement.

What has been described above are merely illustrative examples of theapplication of the principles of the invention. Numerous otherarrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art whichwill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising:

a pair of rails positioned in a spaced relationship,

a pair of transverse members, each transverse member being mountedbetween the respectivee end portions of the rails to brace said rails,

a platform rideable along said rails,

means for resiliently restraining the movement of the platform in eitherdirection along said rails,

supporting means coupled to the spaced rails intermediate their ends,and

a safety strap coupled at one end to the supporting means and at theother end to the platform to maintain said platform in position on therails.

2. An exercising apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the means restraining the platform from movement in either directionalong said rails comprises a resilient belt mounted to the platform andcoupled at either end to one of the transverse members.

3. A ski exercising apparatus in accordance with claim 2 furtherincluding:

a buckle having a plurality of slots extending therethrough throughwhich said resilient belt is threaded in a predetermined manner tosecure said belt to the transverse member.

4. An exercising apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the buckle comprises a body portion having a plurality of elongatedslots extending therethrough in a substantially parallel arrangementforming a plurality of transverse body members, a predetermined numberof said members having roller means mounted thereabout to facilitatethreading of the belt through said slots to lock said belt in position.

5. An exercising apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further including:

clamping means for mounting the resilient belt to the platform and thesafety strap thereto, said clamping means including tubular bracketmeans and a plurality of bolts for securing the bracket means to theplatform with adjacent portions of the safety strap and the resilientbelt mounted therebetween.

6. An exercising apparatus in accordance with claim :1

wherein:

the intermediate supporting means comprises a substantially U-shapedmember having a base portion and a pair of upwardly extending legs, theintermediate portion of said base being of reduced diameter to permitthe mounting of the safety strap thereabout and the legs include upperend portions terminating in a flange having an aperture extendingtherethrough and wherein said rails each include a slot for insertion ofthe flange therein and an aperture in alignment with the aperture in theflange portion to per- .mit mounting of the supporting member to therails.

7. An exercising apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the transverse members include conical washers mounted at the endportions thereof and the rails include apertures extending therethroughto permit mounting means to be mounted therein and coupled to theconical washers.

8. An exercising apparatus comprising:

a pair of rails positioned in a spaced relationship,

a pair of transverse members, each transverse member being mountedbetween the respective end portions of the rails to brace said rails,

a platform rideable along said rails, and

means for resiliently restraining the movement of the platform in eitherdirection along said rails,

wherein:

the platform includes a pair of downwardly extending side portionshaving the lower end thereof of a curved configuration to captivate saidplatform on the rails and including at least one grooved roller mountedto each of said downwardly extending side portions to engage the railsin order to facilitate movement of the platform therealong.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,043,769 9/ 1966 Great Britain-675,742 7/1952 Great Britain. 710,685 6/1965 Canada.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner R. W. DIAZ, J 11., Assistant Examiner

